London is in the air!

I am London bound in T-minus 9 days and family time is in order!

We headed to the movie 'The King's Speech' (I highly recommend it if you enjoy non-fiction,biographies,history and sightseeing!) and it has gotten

me so excited for adventuring in London, England!

I have decided to get back into the 'school mode' and start researching

some history that has taken place there... starting with

WestMinster Abbey!

How gorgeous is this Church!

There is daily worship taking place here...and who wouldn't to

worship our beautiful Lord in a beautiful place!

"A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom"

( http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history )

I could go on and on about the history but I want to focus in on the architectural design of the Church.

The main theme for the architectural building was,at the time, the newest Gothic style. "This features pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, rose windows and flying buttresses. The design is based on the continental system of geometrical proportion, but its English features include single rather than double aisles and a long nave with wide projecting transepts. The Abbey has the highest Gothic vault in England (nearly 102 feet) and it was made to seem higher by making the aisles narrow. The Englishness is also apparent in the elaborate mouldings of the main arches, the lavish use of polished Purbeck marble for the columns and the overall sculptural decoration. The east-west axis was determined by the existing position of the Lady Chapel.

 

It has been called "one of the most perfect buildings ever erected in England" and "the wonder of the world". Henry spent lavish sums on its decoration. The glory of the chapel is its delicately carved fan vaulted roof, with hanging pendants. These are constructed on half-concealed transverse arches. All around the chapel are Tudor emblems such as the rose and portcullis, and nearly one hundred statues of saints still remain in niches around the walls. The original jewel-like stained glass by Bernard Flower has, however, disappeared."

 

( http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/the-architecture-of-westminster-abbey )

There have been so many artist's fingerprints in this church! Each addition of the Church
that was added on at different times tells its own story of the influences that were
taking place in London and the love of the artist! I cannot wait to venture in
and marvel at the handy work! Too bad you can't take pictures in it! haha

LONDON HERE I COME!